Cheese Tasting with J. Rieger and Co.

We are so excited to welcome J. Rieger and Co. back for another spirits and cheese pairing with us. This tasting experience will be led by National Beverage Director Andrew Olsen (formerly of Bluestem, Rye and The Rieger).  J. Rieger & Co. was the largest mail-order whiskey house in the country prior to Prohibition. 90 years later, in 2009, Ryan Maybee, a local bartender who opened Manifesto, a bar in the basement of the Rieger Hotel, learned of the hotel’s connection to the old distillery and wanted to resurrect it. After meeting Andy Rieger – the only living descendant of Jacob Rieger, the original J. Rieger & Co. distillery owner, at the opening of The Rieger restaurant in 2010, they decided to team up and make the distillery happen. Fast forward to present day – after gaining national recognition and an army of fans, they opened a brand new 60,000 foot distillery, tasting room and events space in 2020.

Guests of this class will learn all about pairing cheese with cocktails and spirits and as well as the full history of how J. Rieger & Co. came to be what it is today. Enjoy four of our award-winning cheeses paired with a cocktails featuring J. Rieger’s various spirits.

A note about COVID. We love you and we want you to stay healthy! So, we will be closely monitoring the rates of COVID in our area and the recommendations of the CDC and our local public health experts. If rates of hospitalization rise we may require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 24 hours of our events. You can be assured that all of our staff are vaccinated to protect ourselves and the especially vulnerable members of our community.

Our Cheese Tastings are unique, one of a kind, celebrations of locally made food and beverages. If you have additional questions about the classes please see the FAQs or email june@greendirtfarm.com.